Title: Roar
Series: Stormheart #1
Author: Cora Carmack
Genre: YA, high fantasy
Publication date: June 2017
Published by: Tor Teen
Source: Library book
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Synopsis:
In a land ruled and shaped by violent magical storms, power lies with those who control them.
Aurora Pavan comes from one of the oldest Stormling families in existence. Long ago, the ungifted pledged fealty and service to her family in exchange for safe haven, and a kingdom was carved out from the wildlands and sustained by magic capable of repelling the world’s deadliest foes. As the sole heir of Pavan, Aurora’s been groomed to be the perfect queen. She’s intelligent and brave and honorable. But she’s yet to show any trace of the magic she’ll need to protect her people.
To keep her secret and save her crown, Aurora’s mother arranges for her to marry a dark and brooding Stormling prince from another kingdom. At first, the prince seems like the perfect solution to all her problems. He’ll guarantee her spot as the next queen and be the champion her people need to remain safe. But the more secrets Aurora uncovers about him, the more a future with him frightens her. When she dons a disguise and sneaks out of the palace one night to spy on him, she stumbles upon a black market dealing in the very thing she lacks—storm magic. And the people selling it? They’re not Stormlings. They’re storm hunters.
Legend says that her ancestors first gained their magic by facing a storm and stealing part of its essence. And when a handsome young storm hunter reveals he was born without magic, but possesses it now, Aurora realizes there’s a third option for her future besides ruin or marriage.
She might not have magic now, but she can steal it if she’s brave enough.
Challenge a tempest. Survive it. And you become its master.
I really wanted to like you Roar, I really did. But gods, you were just not for me. I admit, Fantasy is not really my thing to start with, but I do enjoy a good Fantasy novel on the rare occasion. This particular book was a group read for a Goodreads group I’m part of, and this one did sound interesting to me! I loved the premise of storms ravaging the lands and demigod-like, superpowered humans able to dissipate said storms. These people are usually royalty, but our protagonist, who is a princess, actually has no signs of having any abilities! Sign me up for that, please! But, um, no. While I did enjoy some aspects of the book, overall I ended up just not liking it as much as I was hoping. So prepare yourselves, grab yourself some popcorn and have a seat, because this is gonna be a long one!
